Mountain Bike Specialists honored
Mountain Bike Specialists was chosen as one of “America’s Best Bike Shops” by National Bicycle Dealers Association and honored at a reception at Interbike in Las Vegas.
The bicycle shops were judged on their community outreach, advocacy outreach, overall professionalism and industry involvement. In addition to a written evaluation, National Bicycle Dealers Association sent a “secret shopper” to Durango. The “secret shopper” reviewed the Mountain Bike Specialists website and response to an email inquiry as well as critiqued a telephone conversation with the store. The cleanliness of the building was judged along with the cleanliness of the bathrooms, the visual appearance of the store, the creativity of the displays, checkout procedures, signage and background music. The employees were judged on their greeting, product knowledge, accessibility, responsiveness and welcoming attitudes. The final assessment included understanding the needs of the customer, listening skills, presentation skills, product knowledge, handling objectives, securing the sale and thanking the customers.
For more information, visit mountainbikespecialists.com.
Chamber to host Table Top Expo
The Durango Chamber of Commerce will host a Table Top Expo during its Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.
The event will feature more than 40 exhibitors, giveaways and door prizes. The cost is $7 for chamber members and guests.
Chamber to host Lunch and Learn
The Durango Chamber of Commerce’s October Lunch and Learn will present “Social & Emotional Intelligence for a Stronger Workplace: The ROI of SEI” at noon Oct. 21 at the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.
The program will be presented by Deanne J. Idar of Top Seed Leadership Coaching. Social and emotional intelligence is a form of intelligence that drives a person’s success in work, life and in relationships with others.
The cost is $10 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Reservations are required.
To register, visit durangobusiness.org or call 247-0312.
Cafe of Life announces new front desk hire
Cafe of Life Chiropractic & Wellness Studio, 635 East Second Ave., announces the addition of Lauren Cartwright to its front desk.
Cartwright is from Kentucky. The practice is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.
For more information, call 385-0321.
Pampered Pets announces hire
Pampered Pets Pet Boarding in Ignacio introduces Mason Davis as one of its new kennel managers.
Davis is a local from La Plata County and has extensive experience with all kinds of animals. He will be starting back to school part-time to become a veterinary assistant.
For more information, visit www.pamperedpetsboarding.org.
School of banking hires director
The Board of Directors for the Western States School of Banking has chosen Gigi Baty as the new executive director of the school.
Baty is a Durango native, Fort Lewis College graduate and has served as the director of continuing education at FLC for the past nine years. Before that, she worked for six years as a conference manager at Washington State University’s urban campus in Spokane, Washington.
At FLC, Baty founded the Community Enrichment, Professional Nonprofit Management and Professional Development Certificate programs that were designed to strengthen various community sectors in the Southwest region.
WSSB has been under contract with the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico for the past 10 years for administrative support services and for the past five years has engaged the association for both managerial and administrative support.
Durango Dermatology adds to its staff
Dr. Mark Gaughan and the staff of Durango Dermatology welcome Jenna Black, RN as Nurse Cosmetic Coordinator.
Black received her undergraduate degree in exercise science from Fort Lewis College in 2008. After graduating, she pursued nursing at Pueblo Community College, graduating in 2013.
As a member of the Durango Dermatology team, Black’s focus is cosmetic dermatology, including Botox injections, dermal fillers, cosmetic laser treatment and cosmetic consultations.
For more information, call 247-1970.
First National Bank announces new hires
First National Bank of Durango announces these new hires:
Debbie Aucker joins the team as a drive-up teller. She has lived in Durango for most of her life and graduated from Durango High School. Aucker comes to the bank from Trimble True Value.
Arlene Longfellow is a business banking officer. Born and raised in California, Longfellow has been living in the Durango area for 25 years. She received her two-year certificate from Western School of Banking and worked for Pine River Valley Bank for the past 15 years.
Adrianna Cage returns as an universal banker at the Walmart branch.
Caitlin Jones is a drive-up teller. Jones is originally from Central Iowa and attended the university there. She’s been in the Durango area for about three years and worked as the assistant manager at Maurice’s.
Hannah Fessler is a universal banker at the main office. Fessler is from Littleton and received her degree in economics from the University of Colorado in Boulder. She is new to the area, having lived here two months.
Shanda Price returns to the bank as a loan operations specialist. Price was born and raised in Durango and has since started her own family.
For more information, visit www.fnbdurango.com.
Keller Williams welcomes Dru English
Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates LLC welcomes Dru English, broker-associate, to the company.
English was born and raised in Durango and brings a unique skill set and valuable local knowledge to the people he serves. He attended college at the University of New Mexico and has a secondary education degree. English has extensive experience in the service industry, with 15 years spent at Purgatory Resort and the Balcony, and before that, at Dalton Ranch and cities such as San Diego and La Jolla beach, Albuquerque and Sioux City.
For more information, visit Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates LLC at 700 Main Ave. or call 259-1139.
Medicine Horse celebrates anniversary
Medicine Horse Center with locations in Durango and Mancos is celebrating 15 years of service in the communities.
The nonprofit offers Equine Assisted Therapy to youths and adults with behavioral issues, at-risk youths and clients with physical, mental and emotional challenges. Seven specially trained and certified staff and 10 therapy horses offer an alternative to traditional therapy for clients coping with drug and alcohol abuse; veterans and their families; people with post traumatic stress disorder; and others dealing with physical abuse and violence.
Horses provide a unique experiential learning process that enables clients to observe their behaviors and emotional triggers being mirrored by the empathetic and emotionally responsive horse. Programs include Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Experiential Learning and the AWARE program for students. AWARE teaches Awareness of Actions, Words, Accountability, Respect and Empathy.
For more information or volunteer, visit www.medicinehorsecenter.org.
Health coalition announces addition
The Community Health Action Coalition announces the addition of Kathy Sherer as administrative coordinator.
The coalition is the coordinating body for communication, collaboration, education and other health-related activities in La Plata County. It advocates for the prevention of disease and disability and for healthy lifestyles and integrated health services that are accessible and affordable for everyone.
Sherer will coordinate communications with coalition members and the community, designing marketing pieces, working with sustainability efforts, assisting with educational events, implementing outreach through electronic media and supporting the staff and board.
Before joining the coalition, Sherer was the project assistant for a consulting business that offers services to governments, coalitions and nonprofits in the Four Corners.
For more information, visit www.chaclaplata.com or call 799-0218.
Sailing adventure company opens
Durango’s newest outdoor adventure company, Peaks and Tides, is bringing sailing to Southwest Colorado.
Owners Scott Frazer and Katie James offer an array of sailing charter cruises, sailing lessons with American Sailing Association Certified Instructors, youth sailing programs and a Baja sailing charter opportunity.
Operating primarily on Navajo Lake at Colorado’s Navajo State Park, Peaks and Tides will sail through October 2015, and begin its season again in March through October 2016. Baja charter opportunities will be available November 2015 through May 2016.
For more information, or to book a sailing adventure, visit peaksandtides.com or call 759-3604.
Herald Staff
